Space, Science, Aviation, and Writing as a Couple

It’s National Aviation Day: Airfare Deals

August 19 is Orville Wright’s birthday, and President Franklin Delano Roosevelt designated it National Aviation Day in 1939. Here are some deals so that you can celebrate by booking a flight!

Doug had a good flying experience (more leg room!) with Jet Blue between Chicago and Provincetown, where he spent a week at a writing workshop (more on that soon!). Jet Blue is running fares between Long Beach and Las Vegas for as low as $49 each way (plus fees). On Jet Blue, the first checked bag is free!

Southwest Airlines is offering deals for travel from the Northeast to Florida. Purchase must be made by September 1, for travel between September 7 and November 15 on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays. The fare between Baltimore and Fort Lauderdale may be as low as $89 each way (plus fees). Up to two checked bags at no extra charge!

American Airlines is touting discounts for domestic flights purchased by August 24, for travel through December 10. The fare between Chicago and Atlanta, for example, may be as low as $44 each way (plus fees). AA is also advertising fares from Philadelphia or Phoenix to Germany for as low as $286 each way (plus fees) or from New York or DC to Paris for $291 each way (plus fees)—and lots more for travel to Europe October 24-March 31. American raised its checked baggage fee earlier this year to $25 for the first bag and $35 for the second.

United Airlines is offering similar deals to Europe. Tickets must be purchased by August 25, for travel October 24-March 31. The fare between Los Angeles or Chicago and London may be as low as $323. We had an easy flight home on United earlier this week and wish we could traipse off to Europe. Like American, United raised its checked baggage fee to $25 for the first bag and $35 for the second (save a couple of bucks by paying ahead online when you get your boarding pass).

Delta Airlines is advertising special fares for New York and for Atlanta. Continental Airlines is advertising special fares for Los Angeles, for Texas, and for Florida. U.S. Airways has a special offer for Glasgow, but we weren’t impressed with our flight to Europe last year.

ITA Software is a great place to search flights and COMPARE FARES! You can’t purchase tickets there, and it doesn’t pick up all airlines (Southwest is missing). But it’s a good place to gauge your options, especially because you can view a calendar showing lower fares if your dates are flexible.